After providing a good start and scoring a brilliant half-century on the day one of the Perth Test, the Australian opening batsman Aaron Finch feels that the off-spinner Nathan Lyon should enjoy bowling on this track.

Trailing the four-match Test series by 0-1, Australia has started the second Test of the series at the new Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium) by winning the toss and deciding to bat first. With lots of ups and downs on the opening day of the game, Australia finished the day one on 277/6.

While the Indian part-time off-spinner Hanuma Vihari (2/53) was very useful on the day, Finch believes that the Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon will enjoy bowling on this track.

Finch said at the end of the day, “It’s going to be one of those games that’ll be a real grind for both sides. The position we’re in we would have taken at the start of the day, no doubt, especially winning the toss and batting. I think Nathan Lyon will enjoy bowling with the amount of bounce on this track, no doubt he will be excited to bowl here.”

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After a great opening start of 112/0 that provided by the openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch, Australia once went down to 148/4. Later, Shaun Marsh and Travis Head took the crucial responsibilities to recover the hosts’ from that difficult situation as they had an important 84-run partnership for the fifth wicket. At the end of the day, both were dismissed while Australia finished the day on 277/6.

Talking about the pitch, Finch elaborated how to play on this wicket.

He said, “When the ball starts seaming off good parts of the wicket and quite dramatically at times, I think that’s when you know you need to tighten up. But you have to also be in a position to cash in on some balls that you can hit, otherwise you get stuck in two minds and end up letting the wicket get you out. So you have to be really proactive and take that out of play as much as you can.”

Talking more about their game plan for this Test, Finch added, “Our plan was to bat on this wicket regardless of what happened in Adelaide, the heat and getting miles into their legs. That was our plan to bat first anyway and take that challenges head on. No doubt it might play a factor later in this game, or third or fourth Test, but it was always our plan to bat (after winning the toss).”

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After the disappointing performances with the bat in the first Test of the series at Adelaide Oval (Adelaide), Finch faced a lot of criticism and some of the experts suggested dropping him for the Perth Test. However, the skipper Tim Paine and the team management totally supported him and this time he didn’t disappoint by playing a 50-run knock off 105 balls (6 fours).

Finch credited the former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to help him to regain the batting form.

Finch said, “It (talking to Ponting) was really good because it was so simple. It was basically around covering my off stump and lining up slightly different my alignment and where I want to hit the ball.”

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While Finch played a good half-century knock, his opening partner Marcus Harris hit his maiden international half-century as the left-handed batsman scored 70 off 141 balls (10 fours).

Talking about the brilliant knock of Harris, Finch said, “I think what everyone’s seen from him so far, not a lot fazes him. He’s a pretty chilled out character who just goes with the flow and that’s the way he’s always been.

“He’s a great guy, but I think the tightness of his technique – he covers his off stump, looks to hit down the ground and for such a short guy that can be quite unique at times. He’s definitely got all the shots, but I think the way he adapts his game and his game plan depending on the wicket, depending on the attack, I think that’ll hold him in great stead.”

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Finch and Harris had an opening partnership of 112 runs. Speaking about their brilliant opening partnership, Finch claimed that their good relationship from the Victoria side helped them to build up this partnership easily.

Finch added, “We’ve also played quite a bit of cricket together for Victoria so when you have a good relationship with somebody that stuff takes care of itself. Batting out in the middle is always good fun with him. He keeps it pretty simple pretty relaxed. We just keep reminding each other to focus on what our game plan is and what our strengths are.”